Means for producing from spaced oil sands one of which requires pumping



Feb; 24, 1 942.

0. HAMMER MEANS FOR PRODUCING FROM SPACED OIL SANDS ONE OF WHICH REQUIRES PUMPING Filed Aug. 9, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Wm Mm Feb. 24, 1942. o. HAMMER 7 2,274,407 MEANS FOR PRODUCING FROM SPA CED OIL SANDS ONE OF WHICH REQUIRES PUMPING Filed Aug. 9, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 2 \\\\T=a\\\ \\\\\;3 RNA in j z a 22 I z I l x I g F x I byezzafaz Y Orzafihmvae Feb. 24, 1942. O HAMMER 2,274,407 MEANS FOR PRODUCING FROM SPACED OIL SANDS ONE OF WHICH REQUIRES PUMPING Filed Aug. 9, 1939 3 sheets shet 3 W w Z fizz/6205a) 027v A/vwme 2 Ma azine 5 I Ill/l Ill 1/ I I-VE-III-V l1.

7//5;// II/ I l/ 1/ I I ll Ill/fill /l I! I! I I! III?! I I ll 39034 Ill/Ill PatentedFeb 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PRODIlZZZ'i'ZZROM SI ACED OIIi I SANDS ONE ING OF WHICH REQUIRES PUMP- Otto Hammer, Whittier, Calif., assignor to Sccurity Engineering 00., Inc., Whittier, Galif., a corporation of California Application August 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,164

simultaneously. It is a relatively simple matter to produce from two spaced oil zones having the same formation pressure as these zones maybe treated as one large producing zone. It is also a relatively simple matter to produce simultaneously from two spaced oil zoneswhere the formation pressure in the upper zone is sufficient to cause the wellto flow, but the formation pressure of the lower zone is so weak as to require pumping. In this event, the tubing and pump may be lowered into the well to the lower zone and the lower zone packed ofl from the upper zone. The pumping of the lower zone may take place through the tubing while the upper zone is allowed to flow around the tubing or through the space between thetubing and the casing.v

A more diflicult situation arises where the formation pressure of the lower zone is sufficient to cause the well to flow but the formation pressure of the upper zone is so weak as to require pumpmg.

An object of the present invention is to provide for apparatus which will enable the simultaneous production from two spaced oil sands or zones, the lower zone of which has sufficient formation pressure for flowing but the upper formation pressure is so weak as to require pumping.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that may be lowered into the well which will isolate the. path of flow from the lower-zone of high formation pressure from the path of flow from the upper zone of low formation pressure and which requires pumping, thus enabling. both zones to be producedsimultaneously without danger of contamination of 'oil well;

characteristics and which is so designed and constructed as to enable its ready removal in the event that conditions of. the well change or it otherwise becomes desirable to remove or replace the apparatus.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the upper portion of the apparatus illustrating it in its initial condition wherein it is about to be set in the Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the apparatus in its initial condition wherein from one zone with oil from the other, and without danger of the pressure in the lower zone forcing oil therefrom into the formation of the upper zone.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for producing from spaced oil zones which is of relatively simple yet durable construction and which may be set or installed in a well with a single "run-in of the run-in string of pipe by having the apparatus so designed as to permit its installation with a A great saving in time and single run-in. labor is accomplished.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus having the above-mentioned it is about to be set in the well, it being understood that the top of Fig. 2 is a continuation of the bottom of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively illustrating the condition of the apparatus after it has been partially set inthe well;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 5-5 upon Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 6--6 upon Fig. 1 through the delayed action setting means illustrating the delayed action setting means in collapsed or contracted condition; I

Fig. 7 is a view taken substantially upon the line 1--! upon Fig. 3 through the delayed action setting means illustrating the delayed action setting means in expanded condition;

Figs. 8 and 9 are vertical sections through the apparatus somewhat similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but illustrating the apparatus as having been com-.

pletely set in the "well and the connectionwith the tubing having been established; Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken upon the line Ill-l0 upon Fig. 8; and

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line llll upon Fig. 9.

Referring to the accompanyin drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the apparatus forming v the present invention is designed to be used where two spaced producing oil sands or zones are encountered. In the drawings the upper oil sand or zone is indicated at A while the lower zone is indicated at B. The location of these zones is determined during the drilling procedure or may be determined from production tests.

The well may be assumed to have installed thereinstances,

ina casing indicated at III or in some a long liner may be installed which would occupy the position of casing l so as to extend through both zones A and B. The casing or liner I0 is cemented in place so that the space between the exterior of the casing and the well walls is filled to isolate zone A from zone B. Ferforations are formed in the casing or liner as the case may be opposite each zone, the perforations opposite zone A being indicated by the reference character I I and those opposite zone B by the reference character l2. These perforations may be formed in the casing or liner prior to installation or may be formed after installation by means of gun perforators or the like.

The apparatus embodying the present invention comprises an outer conduit l3 on the lower end of which there is provided a packing means set by .means of slips. Slip-set packers are conventional in the art but for completeness of description the lower packing means may be described as follows. On the conduit |3 there is formed a shoulder H (see Fig. 9) against the underside of which there is a deformable packing ring l5 preferably formed of lead. This ring may be formed of rubber composition or other deformable material if desired. Below this packing ring a slip cone I6 is slidable on the conduit which slip cone is designed to expand slips l1 into engagement with the interior of the liner or casing Ill. 'The slips are connected by springs l8 to a slip ring IS. The slip ring l9 has connected thereto friction springs 20 which in turn are connected to a lower ring 2|. The lower ring 2| is provided with one or more bayonet slots 22 designed to-receive studs 23 formed lower ring 2| is in the position shown in Fi 2 the slip ring l9 and slips l1 will be held in their lowermost or contracted positions while the device is being lowered into the well. It will be understood that the above-described construction having reference to the packing ring l5 and the expanding mechanism therefor constitutes a lower packer or packing means on conduit l3 and that while the type of packing means illustrated is preferred, any other suitable packer or packing means may be substituted therefor if desired, the sole requirement being that the packing means be held against release until the desired level in the well is reached, after which release and setting of the packer may be accomplished by turning and lowering conduit l3.

In the upper end of conduit l3 there is formed an inner conduit 24 which is arranged centrally thereof and which has its inlet provided by a special coupling orfitting 25 through the walls of the tubing or 'pipe sections that form conduit l3. This inlet is intended to receive oil from the upper oil sand or zone A exclusively inasmuch as packing ring I5 prevents oil from the lower sand or zone B from mingling therewith inside of thecasing or liner Ill. The internal conduit 24 is equipped with an internal shoulder 26 and has its upper end internally threaded as at 21 so as to provide for attachment of a lefthand floating nut-type setting tool generally designated at 28. The thread 21 is a left-hand thread and the nut 29 has a complementary thread. A non-circular mandrel 30 is attached to the run-in string of pipe 3| and slidably extends through nut 29 so as to be slidably keyed thereto. The mandrel preferably carries a thrust bearing 32 the bottom race of which is carried by shoulder 26. The lower end of the mandrel on the bottom of, conduit |3 so that when the is equipped with a delayed action setting tool generally designated at 33.

This delayed action setting tool comprises a plurality of pivoted dogs indicated at 34' which are urged. outwardly from their collapsed positions as shown in Fig. 1 into expanded positions as shown in Fig. 3 by means of springs 35. The dogs when expanded will project beyond the top edge of a packer sleeve 36 which is telescoped over a packing ring carrier 31 mounted on the upper end-of conduit l3. A packing ring in the form of a lead, rubber, or composition sealing ring 38 fits between a shoulder on the packing ring carrier 31 and the bottom of the sleeve 36. The sleeve is held in uppermost position during lowering of the device into the well by means of shear pins 39. When the delayed action setting tool is pulled out of the inner conduit 24 the dogs 34 are automatically expanded over the top edge of sleeve 36 assuming a position as shown in Fig. 3. When the run-in string of pipe 3| is thenlowered the sleeve 36 is forced downwardly shearing oil the shear pins 39 and expanding the seal ring 38 into engagement with the interior of the lineror casing III. This forms an upper packing means packing off above the upper zone A.

. The operation andadvantages of the abovedescribed construction are as follows: Assuming that the liner or casing has been set and is equipped with perforations II and I 2 opposite the respective oil sands or zones A and B, the device is run into the well on the run-inf string of pipe 3| with the parts in the position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The run-in string of pipe 3| is then reversely rotated so as to back the stud 23 out of slot 22 and the run-in string of pipe is then lowered so as to set the slips l1 and the lower packer. Run-in string of pipe 3| is then. rotated toward the right so as to unscrew the left-hand floating nut 29 and thus disconnect the run-in string of pipe from the inner conduit 24. The run-in string of pipe is then lifted so as to draw the delayed action setting tool 33 out of the inner conduit 24 and enable it to be expanded over the top of sleeve 36. The run-in string of pipe is then lowered to cause sleeve 36 to shear 011 its pin 39 and expand the upper packing ring 38. In this manner the lower packer l5 will be set above the perforations opposite oil sand or zone B and the upper packer 38 will be set above the upper sand or zone A. The run-in string of pipe is then withdrawn from the well leaving the apparatus in set condition therein. Thereafter a string of tubing 40' is lowered into the well which string carries a suitable packer at its lower end generally indicated at 4| designed to form a packed connection between the bottom of the tubing and the interior of the inner. conduit. In the preferred form of construction the tubing is provided with a packing ring carrier 42 on which there is a deformable packing ring 43 formed of 1ead 0r other suitable material and which is designed to be compressed by a sleeve 44 held in extended position by means of shear pins 45. The, top of fitting 25 forms a seat limiting downward movement of sleeve 44 so that when weight is imposed by means of the tubing 40 the sleeve 44 will compress the ring 43 into good sealing enthe apparatus thus set oil from the lower or high pressure zone B may enter the open bottom of the conduit l3 and flow upwardly therethrough between the packing ring carrier 31 and the inner conduit 24. Oil from the upper or lower pressure zone A may enter the inlet forming fitting 25 and pass upwardly through the inner conduit 24 and into the tubing 40. In this way oil from the lower or high pressure zone B may flow by formation pressure through the space between tubing 40' and the casing l while oil is simultaneously being pumped through the tubing 49 from the low pressure zone A. Thus, both zones may be simultaneously produced without danger of oil from one zone becoming contami-,

nated with or commingling with oil from th'eother. Also the pressure from the high pressure zone B will be kept from dissipating itself through perforations I l into the lower pressure zone A.

It will be appreciated that with the abovedescribed apparatus that both packers may be set and that the apparatus may be installed with but a single run-in of the run-in string of pipe 3|. In other words, the entire apparatus is run into the well, set, and left in position with a single run-in of the run-in string 3|. The

run-in string is then withdrawn and the tubing 40 introduced. The connectionis made by setting the packer 4| and the well is then in condition to produce from both zones simultaneously.

It will be appreciated that the design is not only simple in operation, but durable in construction having relatively few moving parts so that there is little danger of any part of the construction failing to operate properly or to get out of order.

The invention has been described as being used in a continuous casing or liner which extends through both productive zones A and B. How-- ever, the use of the invention is in no way restricted thereto. In some fields, such as for example in the State of Illinois, the formation at the productive zone or zones is such that production may take place without the installation of a liner or a screen, or to use a popular terminology, the well is produced barefooted. In these instances, where it is not necessary to use a perforated liner or a screen, I contemplate the introduction into the well of a casing, the shoe of which isset at the top of the lower oil sand leaves the well with an upper string of cemented casing extending from the top of the upper zone A to the surface and a lower string of cemented casing extending from the bottom of the upper zone A to the top of the lower zone B. The two strings of easing are unconnected. With the well in this condition the apparatus embodying the present invention may be introduced and the lower packer set in the lower casing string between zones A and B. The upper packer is set in the upper casing string'above the upper zone A. The operation and the advantages of the construction are, of course, the same when thus used as in the case where it is used in a continuous liner or casing.

It is also apparent that if a liner is set so as to extend through the upper'zone A only, and a smaller liner is set therein so as to extend into the lower zone B, that the apparatus may be readily installed therein by selecting the proper size of packers, one to fit the smaller liner and the other to fit the upper liner if occasion should so require.

pended claims.

I claim: 1. An apparatus for producing from spaced oil sands comprising vertically spaced packers,

means providing a passage through the upper or productive zone B. At the location of the upper productive zone A the casing may be formed of readily 'drillable material, such as for example'the aluminum alloy now sold on they market under the trade-name of Securaloy." The entire casing is then cemented in place and after the cement has set, the readily drillable or Securaloy portionof the casing'is drilled out or otherwise removed and the cement surroundpacker leading from the space between the packers through the upper packer to a tubing, means providing a second passage leading from below the lower packer through both packers to the space above the upper packer surrounding the tubing, the lower packer being a slip-set packer, the upper packer being equipped for releasably connecting it to a run-in pipe, and a delayed action setting means by which the run-infpipe may set the upper packer following release.

2. A device for producing spaced oil sands in wells comprising upper and lower packers, means defining an outer passage connecting the packers leading from below the lower packer through the upper packer, means defining an inner passage leading from the exterior of said passagedefining means into the outer passage, and a tubing connectable to the inner passage-defining means and forming a continuation thereof whereby fluids from below each packer may ascend through the outer and inner passages isolated from each other, the lower packer being a slip-set packer and. the upper packer being packer has been set.

o'rro HAMMER. 

